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Austal Limited is an Australian-based global ship building company and defence prime contractor that specialises in the design, construction and support of defence and commercial vessels. Austal's product range includes naval vessels, High-speed craft, and supply or crew transfer vessels for offshore windfarms and oil and gas platforms.
Austal has three major ship building facilities. Defence vessels are designed and constructed in Henderson, Western Australia, and Mobile, Alabama, US. Commercial vessels are constructed in Balamban, Philippines. Vessel support is provided through service centres located in Darwin, Cairns and Henderson in Australia; San Diego, California, US; Balamban, Philippines and Muscat, Oman. Corporate headquarters are co-located at Austal's Australian ship building facility in Henderson.
Austal has designed and constructed over 260 vessels for numerous defence forces and commercial fleet operators. Customers include the Australian Border Force, [[Condor Ferries]], [[Mols Linien of Denmark|Molslinjen]], Royal Australian Navy, Royal Navy of Oman, and United States Navy.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Austal’s long-serving chairman weighs retirement as bids land Australian Financial Review 3 April 2024 In December 1998, it was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Admission to Official List Australian Securities Exchange 4 December 1998 Smoother seas Australian Financial Review 4 November 2004
In May 1999, Oceanfast was purchased. Austal Limited formally acquires Oceanfast Shipbuilding operations Austral 31 May 1999
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Oceanfast joins the Austal Group Austal Group News issue 2 1999 page 1 In December 1999, Austal USA was formed in a joint venture with Bender Shipbuilding & Repair of Mobile, Alabama.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> US Joint Venture Austal 21 December 1999 In September 2006, it purchased Bender's shareholding in Austal USA.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Austal Acquires Minority Interest Austral 18 September 2006
In February 2007, North West Bay Shipping shipyard in Margate, Tasmania was purchased.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Austal Purchases Shipyard Facilities Austal 26 February 2007 It was closed in August 2010. Rationalisation of Australian Operations Austal 12 May 2010 End of an era for Tasmanian shipbuilding ABC News 9 August 2010 In November 2011, a shipyard in Balamban, Philippines was purchased.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Austal Makes Strategic Asian Shipyard Acquisition Austal 5 November 2011
LCS-2 was the first ship built by Austal USA for the US Navy and the Navy's first trimaran Littoral Combat Ship. It is the first naval warship constructed in Mobile, Alabama since World War II. The basis of Austal's seaframe design was the trimaran hull .
The second Austal/General Dynamics ship, LCS-4, was cancelled in November 2007.
In May 2009, the US Navy renewed the contract with Austal/General Dynamics to build the second LCS, , with delivery scheduled for May 2012.
In December 2010 the US Navy announced a new contract with Austal USA after Austal severed ties with General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. New contracts for Littoral Combat Ships were awarded to both Austal USA and Lockheed Martin. The contract called for one ship to be built beginning in 2010 (), one to be built in 2011 (), and two per year from 2012 to 2015. The LCS-6 contract was for US$432 million, with a goal of having the average ship cost US$352 million each. Another US$20 million was figured in for change orders, and a management reserve. Defense News
As the prime contractor, Austal was to design and construct the first EPF, with options for nine additional vessels expected to be exercised between 2009 and 2013. Construction on the second ship started in September 2010. By the end of 2010, Austal had contracts for three ships, long-lead material contracts for two ships and options for five further ships, for a total of ten. Austal starts work on 2nd high-speed military transport ship
The EPF is similar to the Austal-built , which the US Marines had used since 2002.
The EPF can carry , at an average speed of and is able to unload at roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities. The vessels are long, have a beam with a crew of 22 to 40. JHSV vs. LCS
The first four vessels were named , , and . Construction Commences on First Navy Joint High Speed Vessel
While the EPF can carry 300 Marines and their gear for up to four days, it is not expected to be survivable against enemy attack. Austal to build JHSVs for U.S. Navy
In 2011, US Navy planners envisioned building up to two dozen of the EPF ships into the 2020s.Cavas, Christopher P.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> "JHSV Module Damaged at Ala. Shipyard." Defense News, 14 June 2011
In December 2015, Austal entered into a shipbuilding contract with the National Australia Bank to construct two further Cape-class patrol boats. The contract value is A$63 million. The two vessels will be delivered to the National Australia Bank in mid-2017 and chartered to the Australian Government for a minimum term of three years. Austal did a similar off-balance-sheet charter with Westpac Express, which was chartered to the US Navy for 13 years.
In July 2018, the government of Trinidad and Tobago announced the acquisition of two Cape-class patrol boats. The vessels will enhance the border protection capabilities of the country in conjunction with the existing Coast Guard fleet, and will join six Austal Fast Patrol Craft acquired in 2009.
In May 2020, six Evolved Cape-class patrol boats were ordered for the Royal Australian Navy. In 2022, a second order for an additional two vessels was made, and in 2023 a third order for a further two boats.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Austal Australia Awarded $324 Million Contract to build Six Cape-Class Patrol Boats Austal 1 May 2020
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Shipbuilder receives $350 million lifeline to construct six new patrol boats during Covid-19 ABC News 1 May 2020
The first two vessels were launched in October 2009. All four vessels were delivered to Malta in late 2009, and commissioned in March 2010.
Eventually capacity exceeded demand and by the end of the 20th century most builders of large fast cats had ceased production. Austal and its only competitor in this category, Hobart-based Incat survived the late 1990s industry collapse. The two companies continue to compete for orders of large multi-hull ferries of up to 11,000 gross tons with capacities of over 1,200 passengers and 400 vehicles.
On 20 August 2014, Austal announced the sale of Austal Hull 270, the company's trimaran stock vessel, to the Channel Islands' ferry operator, Condor Ferries, for A$61.5 million. It was renamed . Modifications to the stock vessel were valued at approximately A$6 million, and was scheduled to enter service in Spring 2015. On 28 March 2015, the ship struck the quayside while attempting to dock in Guernsey on its second day in service. The damage was only minor and above the waterline. Since then, Condor Liberation has had a difficult period of operation with Condor Ferries, encountering numerous technical problems, weather cancellations and sustaining further damage to its hull whilst docked in Poole on 30 December 2015.
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